Sir Reginald has been in my pocket for a long time.  We have come to know each other well over the past five years.  We have laughed together, we have cried together.  We have seen each other through bad choices and good decisions.  Sometimes we don’t see each other for a time, but always Sir Reginal reappears.

This winter saw a lot of tears.  Sir Reginald had such a bad spring, but things were starting to come together.  Sir Reginald was two credits short of grad – SR could see the light at the end of the tunnel.  But it was still a difficult path as during that difficult spring getting through the day was all that SR was capable of.  Finding basic necessities- food and shelter were most important, school had to be put on the back burner.  Sir Reginald struggled through many traumas this winter, but kept this goal in mind.

That meant as we got closer to grad (which was the goal) there were more and more pressures.  There was not a lot of time to complete the work that was needed in order to reach the goal.  And of course life still gets in the way.

SR did graduate, he did wear the gown, he did get his pictures taken with his loved ones showing his accomplishments.  He is the first of his family to graduate high school.  SR was so proud.  He was so humble and so thankful for the help.  I was overjoyed to finally see him reach his goal.  He is such a survivor.  I couldn’t wait to see him Monday and give him his grad gift.

His message to me following grad – “I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without your help.  Thank you for everything you’ve helped me with.”  My reply – No problem, I think the world of you and am so proud to see your success.  I think you are the one who did it all.  Believe in yourself and who you are – so strong and intelligent.”  His reply ” I will and always will, no matter how hard it may be.”

But he still needed to finish 1/2 of a module the week following the ceremony.  SR did not appear again following grad.  He did not return to finish the final part of his last credit nor has he returned any of the messages I have left for him.

Sir Reginald is an amazing young man.  He learned a lot about himself this year and I hope that he is able contact me again as I want to continue in the celebration of his successes.  He may not have actually graduated, but SR still has goals, he can still come back to finish the last part of his credits, or he can go on into post secondary education as he had planned.  I would just like to tell him, I wish him the best and am still there if he needs.

In class we shared our “Whose in my pocket?” stories with a partner.  My partner was Jesse who has a somewhat similar role to mine.  We discuss the use of social media to maintain communication lines with students and the importance of those communication lines.  We also discussed our relationships with fellow staff members.  Both of us find it difficult to work with staff and maintain the confidentiality of the students we work with.  I often ask teachers to accept students back into their classroom and find they feel somehow betrayed or put out.  I must remember to tell staff that I would not jeopardize my relationship with my fellow colleagues if I didn’t feel that this student needed a break.  I respect the staff that I work with, but that respect needs to go full circle including the students we work with who are dealing with trauma and crisis.